Return to Camelot

Part 11

The Ewing limousine came to a stop in the driveway at Southfork. The driver opened the door for Sue Ellen as J.R. stepped out of the other side of the limousine. J.R. walked around to the opposite side of the limo, and held out his hands to steady Sue Ellen, as he pulled her out of the back seat. Sue Ellen thanked J.R. for his assistance, as the driver closed the door behind her.

Christopher raced outside onto the driveway, calling, "Aunt Sue Ellen…Aunt Sue Ellen!"

Bobby followed after Christopher, trying to prevent him from bumping into Sue Ellen, or hugging her too tightly.

J.R. turned away from Sue Ellen, in an effort to catch Christopher before he collided with Sue Ellen.

J.R. caught Christopher in his arms, and said, "Easy, Christopher. Your Aunt Sue Ellen has just had surgery, bud."

Christopher glanced up at Sue Ellen, trying to free himself from J.R.'s grasp, asking, "Surgery? For what?"

Sue Ellen smiled at Bobby, as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

Bobby touched Christopher's arm, and said, "Tell you what, son. Why don't we let your Aunt Sue Ellen go upstairs, and get some rest, then, maybe later she can explain to you everything that happened?"

Christopher started to cry, and tearfully asked, "Aunt Sue Ellen, you're not gonna go away like my Mom did, are you?"

Sue Ellen put her arms around Christopher, and said, "No, Sweetheart, I'm here to stay. I'll explain everything to you, as soon as I go upstairs and change my clothes."

Christopher asked, "You promise?"

Sue Ellen smiled at Christopher, making a crisscross motion over her chest, saying, "I cross my heart."

Bobby touched Sue Ellen's arm, and said, "Thank you, Sue Ellen. He was terribly worried about you. We all were."

Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, Bobby. I really am feelin' much better."

Sue Ellen glanced around the driveway, and asked, " Where is John Ross?"

Bobby said, "He's on his way home from Ashley Devereaux' house. I called him when Clayton told me that J.R. had called for the limousine to bring you home."

Sue Ellen walked toward the house, and asked, "Where are Clayton and Miss Ellie?"

Bobby replied, "Clayton took one of the hands with him to drive into Dallas, and get J.R.'s car, and Mamma said to give you her love, and her apology. She had to attend an important DOA meeting with Mavis Anderson."

Christopher grinned at Sue Ellen, as he walked past her into the house.

J.R. opened the door to their bedroom, and held the door open, while Sue Ellen stepped inside the room. J.R. placed their garment bags on a chair, and then closed and locked the door. Sue Ellen sighed as she looked around their bedroom. It had felt like she had spent a lifetime away from their room, and away from Southfork.

J.R. walked over to Sue Ellen, and put his arms around her waist. Sue Ellen leaned back against J.R.'s chest, and lightly kissed his neck.

J.R. softly asked, "Why don't we get you ready to take a nap, Sugar? You'll have plenty of time to answer Christopher's questions, later on."

Sue Ellen exhaled, and said, "I know, J.R., but a promise is a promise. Will you stay in here with me while I talk to him?"

J.R. kissed Sue Ellen's cheek, and said, "Anything you want, Honey."

Sue Ellen changed into more suitable attire to wear while she talked to Christopher. She donned a pair of white, silk lounging pajamas. She pinned her hair up on her head, and put on a pair of slippers. J.R. offered to bring Christopher to their room, as soon as Sue Ellen was ready for him.

J.R. knocked on the door, and said, "Sugar? It's me, and Christopher."

Christopher peered around the door, as J.R. opened the door to their room. Sue Ellen was sitting on the edge of the bed. Christopher tentatively walked into the bedroom. Sue Ellen patted the top of the mattress, inviting Christopher to sit beside her. J.R. climbed on top of the bed, and lay on the mattress, behind Sue Ellen. J.R. lifted his hand to Sue Ellen's shoulder, and pulled her closer to his chest, to support her back.

Sue Ellen said, "Christopher, I know you have a lot of questions for me, but I want to make sure that you understand my answers, too, okay?"

Christopher nodded his head 'yes.'

Sue Ellen softly spoke, "The other night, when we were at the Oil Barons' Ball, I passed out on the stage. Nobody knew what had happened to me, or what had caused me to pass out, so they took me to Dallas Memorial Hospital in an ambulance."

Christopher's voice trembled as he asked, "Aunt Sue Ellen, are you gonna die?"

Sue Ellen hugged Christopher to her chest, saying, "Someday, Sweetheart, but hopefully not for a very long while."

Christopher smiled, and said, "I'm glad…Um, what happened to make you pass out?"

Sue Ellen replied, "Well, this isn't easy for me to say yet, Sweetheart, so bear with me, okay?"

Christopher nodded his head in agreement.

J.R. kissed Sue Ellen's shoulder, as her eyes filled with tears.

Sue Ellen managed to say, "I was pregnant, Christopher, but the place inside me where the baby started to grow was too small for the baby, and the baby died. Do you understand?"

Christopher started to cry, and said, "I'm awful sorry, Aunt Sue Ellen. Wasn't there anything the doctors could do to save the baby?"

Sue Ellen turned her head, silently pleading with J.R. to help her find the words.

J.R.'s voice was raw with emotion, as he said, "The baby died before help arrived for your Aunt Sue Ellen, Christopher. We were fortunate that the doctors were able to save Sue Ellen's life."

Christopher leaned his head against Sue Ellen's shoulders, and threw his arms around her neck. Sue Ellen put her arms around Christopher, until he stopped crying.

Christopher lifted his head, and said, "I'm sorry about your baby, but I'm glad you're still here, Aunt Sue Ellen. I love you, a lot."

Sue Ellen smiled through her tears, and said, "Me, too, Christopher. I love you very much."

Christopher said, "Thank you for talking to me like I'm not a baby. I hate that. Daddy does it all the time, and I can't stand it."

Sue Ellen grinned at Christopher, and said, "You're becoming a young man, Christopher. Your Daddy should be very proud of you."

Christopher left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Sue Ellen turned to face J.R.

J.R.'s eyes were damp from his tears as he listened to Sue Ellen explained the loss of their baby. Sue Ellen brushed at her cheeks to wipe away her tears. J.R. put his arms around Sue Ellen's waist, carefully pulling her on top of the bed. Sue Ellen lay on her back, on top of the mattress

J.R. reached for Sue Ellen's hand and said, "That was very considerate of you to take the time to talk to Christopher, Sugar. I don't think I would have been able to find the patience, or the words, for that matter."

Sue Ellen said, "I feel so terrible for Christopher, J.R. Pamela has no idea what she did to both him and Bobby when she left Dallas, does she?"

Sue Ellen knew there was nothing but bad blood between J.R. and Pamela Barnes-Ewing, but her compassionate side had endeared her to her nephew, Christopher. J.R. deeply admired, respected and loved Sue Ellen for her compassionate nature. Sue Ellen and J.R. had a marked propensity for making up for each other's weaknesses.

J.R. solemnly asked, "Sue Ellen? Do you think we're too old to try and have another baby?"

Sue Ellen said, "I haven't come to terms with losin' our baby, yet, J.R. I haven't given much thought to whether or not age had anything to do with it. Do you want another baby?"

J.R. moved his hand underneath Sue Ellen's pajama top, touching her stomach, and said, "I remember how beautiful I thought you looked when you were pregnant with John Ross. It would have been nice if you were to get pregnant again, considerin' how close our relationship is now, to be able to share that experience."

Sue Ellen intensely gazed into J.R.'s eyes. The thought of having another baby frightened her and delighted her all at once. When she was younger, the thought of giving J.R. another child was all that she would ever think about. If only their relationship was then the way it is for them now? If only . . . ?

J.R. moved his hand to Sue Ellen's abdomen, and asked, "How does your incision feel?"

Sue Ellen shrugged her shoulders, and said, "It's still a little tender, but nowhere near as painful as my Caesarian was."

J.R. lifted Sue Ellen's pajama top, and untied the ribbon on her silk pajama bottoms, lowering the waistband of her pajama bottoms to her incision. J.R. placed a delicate kiss next to her incision. Sue Ellen sighed as she felt J.R. lightly blowing on her sensitive skin. J.R. grinned mischievously, then he gently raised Sue Ellen's pajama bottoms back up around her waist.

J.R. moved toward the head of the bed, and reached for Sue Ellen's hand. He lifted her hand to his mouth, and kissed her index finger.

Sue Ellen smiled at J.R. with adoring eyes, and asked, "What was that for?"

J.R. said, "For love. I hope you have some idea of how much I love you, Honey?"

Sue Ellen grinned at J.R., saying, "Yes, I do. I love you, too, J.R."

J.R. moved his hand over Sue Ellen's pajama top, latching his fingers around a button. He unfastened the button, and lifted his hand to the next button. Sue Ellen smirked at J.R., and pulled his hand away from her pajama top.

J.R. innocently asked, "What?"

Sue Ellen said, "You're not the only one strugglin' with havin' to wait until we can have sex, J.R. You teasin' me doesn't help matters, any."

J.R. chuckled, and asked, "Who's teasin, Sugar? I distinctly remember a gorgeous blond woman tellin' me that there were other ways of makin' love."

Sue Ellen shook her head in mock disdain, asking, "Don't you ever stop, J.R.? You're worse now than when we were first married"

J.R. laughed heartily at the reminder of how depraved he would occasionally allow himself to behave when he and Sue Ellen were first married. J.R.'s eyes twinkled as he thought about some of the things him and Sue Ellen used to do, and the way they did them. He could recall all-night lovemaking sessions, and hours he and Sue Ellen would spend together, just touching each other.

Sue Ellen reached up her hand and turned J.R.'s face toward her, asking, "What on earth were you thinkin' about, J.R.?"

J.R. lowered his head closer to Sue Ellen's face, and whispered, "This . . . "

J.R.'s mouth gently caressed Sue Ellen's lips. Sue Ellen bit at J.R.'s bottom lip, as his hands moved to her shoulders. J.R.'s eyes were fiercely ablaze with desire, as Sue Ellen intensified her kiss.

Sue Ellen could feel J.R.'s flourishing need. She, too, had gotten carried away with her passionate response to J.R.'s kiss.

J.R. pulled away from Sue Ellen, as he brushed a stray strand of her hair away from her eyes. J.R. cupped Sue Ellen's chin between his thumb, and forefinger, and firmly kissed her mouth. Sue Ellen lifted her hand to J.R.'s shoulder, as the pressure of his mouth against her lips increased.

J.R. opened his eyes and grinned at Sue Ellen. He was extremely satisfied that his kiss had the desired effect on her. Sue Ellen whimpered as J.R. pulled away from her.

J.R. seductively whispered, "Don't worry, Sugar. The night's not over yet . . . "